Aluminium-reducing pot and means for tapping same



(No Model.)

A. DIOKEY.

ALUMINIUM REDUCING POT AND MEANS FOR TAPPING SAME. No. 602,575. PatentedApr. 19,1898.

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STATES ANDREW DICKEY, or NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK.

ALUMINIUM-REDUCING POT AND MEANS FOR TAPPlNG SAME.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 602,575, dated April 19,1898.

Application filed November 12, 1897. Serial No- 658,232. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREWDIOKEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Niagara Falls, in the State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Aluminium-Reduction Pots andMeans for Tapping the Same, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

Heretofore in the reduction of aluminium by the electrolytic processserious difficulty has arisen in removing the reduced metal from thebath. The most common method has been to uncover the bath and dip themetal out; but this method involves large loss, because in uncoveringthe bath and in dipping out a considerable amount of the metal isoxidized and consequently lost. On the other hand, it has heretoforebeen considered impossible to provide the pot with a tap-hole or ventfor drawing off the metal for the reason that it has been foundimpossible to plug the same by any known means, since the heat is toointense to permit of the use of a metal plug, and the use of clay orporcelain would result in the disintegration and absorption of thesilica and consequent destruction of the quality of the aluminium. Infact, the presence of a small amount of silica renders the use of claysimpossible, and to allow even a very slight amount of silica to beabsorbed would defeat the end of the process.

I have found by experiment and trial a means whereby I am enabled toprovide such a reduction-pot with a tap-hole or ven't, so that the metalmay be drawn off at will without large loss by oxidation, and whereby Iam enabled to effectively plug the tap-hole without any injury to thequality of the metal.

By reference to the drawings herewith, consisting of one sheet, in whichlike letters refor to like parts, I will now explain the means which Iemploy to accomplish that end.

Figure I is a vertical longitudinal section showing a reduction-potprovided with my invention. Fig. II is a top plan View of the same. Fig.III is an end elevation. Fig. IV is an enlarged view of my plug,hereinafter more fully described.

A is the metal casing of the pot, made in any desired form.

B is the carbon lining of the pot, which constitutes the cathode.

C is the bath which contains the metal and the ore to be reduced andinto which the carbons which constitute the anode dip.

D is the tap-hole or vent, which opens interiorly within the bath 0 andexteriorly without the metal casingA. This tap-hole is given sufficientincline to afford free flow of the metal and is tapered, so as toreceive a taperplug from the outside.

E is a taper-plug made, preferably,of Wood, but which may be made ofcharcoal, having a taper corresponding to that of the taphole.

G is a reinforcing-flange which is secured to the metal casing A and towhich is secured a metal spout F.

\Vhen the plug E is inserted within the taphole, a sufiicient amount ofplastic clay or similar material is placed over the outer end, so as tocover it and exclude the oxygen of the air, asindicated at H.Immediately when the process is started the plug E begins to beconverted into charcoal, a material which is not attacked in theelectrolysis and which is not injurious to the aluminium.

When it is desired to draw 01f the charge, the clay is first carefullyremoved, and then the plug E, which has become pure charcoal, maybereadily picked out. When the charge has been drawn, or so much of it asis desired, a fresh plug is inserted and capped with clay, and thus theprocess proceeds.

Having thus described my invention, and without limiting myself to theprecise means employed, what I claim is,-

1. A reduction-pot for the reduction of aluminium provided with a tapertap-hole and a wooden or charcoal plug fitted to said taper, and meansfor excluding said plug from contact with air, substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

2. A reduction pot for the reduction of aluminium provided with atap-hole,a wooden or charcoal plug fitting into said tap-hole, and meansfor preventing oxidation of said plug, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

3. In an aluminium-reduction pot, the combination of a pot provided witha tap-hole, with a wooden or charcoal plug removably inserted therein,and a coating of clay or equivalent material for excluding the exposedend of said plug from the air, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

4. In an aluminium-reduction pot, the com- 1 In testimony that I claimthe invention bination of a pot provided with a taper tapabove set forthI affix my signature in preshole, with a taper Wooden or charcoal plug,ence of two witnesses.

a plastic cap covering the exposed portion of ANDREl/V DIOKEY. 5 saidplug, and a spout surrounding the ex- 3 \Vitnesses:

terior opening of said tap-hole, substantially l HARRY HIGHLAND,

W. LIVINGSTONE.

as and for the purposes set forth.

